Holiday Party Duds for Guys

Dressing for school can be tough enough. Dressing for the holidays can be downright stressful! Here are some awesome holiday party duds you can feel confident stepping out in whether you're heading over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house or stepping out for an epic holiday party with all the trimmings.

Casual party duds: Blake Shelton with a leather jacket over a vest and collared black shirt Courtesy of Daily Mail

Brad Pitt rocks the t-shirt under blazer look. Add jeans for a casual party or dress slacks for a... Courtesy of GossipCop

Johnny Depp wears a three-piece suit minus the jacket. The pocket watch chain and cuffed sleeves ... Courtesy of Hollywood Starz

Step out in a sweater over colored jeans for a casual evening out. Courtesy of Express

There's nothing like a classic Ralph Lauren blazer over a turtleneck when it comes to a casual ev... Courtesy of Trashness

A skinny tie with a blazer and jeans will definitely turn heads in the right places Courtesy of The Journey 21

Dressed Down

For a party in someone's basement or any casual holiday party, a sweater over jeans is a great look. An ombre sweater, like the one shown in the gallery above, looks very cool over a button-down shirt and a nice pair of dark or colored jeans, and it's considered a holiday look because it's not something you'd wear every day. We like sweaters with a collar for holiday style, or an open v-neck with a bow-tie or skinny tie underneath look great, too. As for the word "ombre" in the first sentence... it's not a misspelling of "hombre" from Spanish class... Ombre ist the way the shirt is dyed with a blend from one color to another -- very hot in 2012. Top it off with a leather jacket and you're seriously styling!

Also, note that when we say "jeans" and we're talking about holiday party clothes, we don't mean everyday jeans. Dress jeans shouldn't have worn out knees, frayed hems or stretched out pockets, and they are usually in a solid dark color. 

Dress to impress

For a party with a little more flair you'll either have to don a tie, a jacket or both. A blazer over a collarless shirt -- even a crisp dark t-shirt -- is a great fashion choice. For colder weather, wear a blazer over a dark turtleneck for a mysterious, sophisticated look. 

Wearing a tie? A collar is a must. Skinny ties are in this season, as are plaid bow ties. They're not just for Sunday school, Glee cast members or Bill Nye the Science Guy. Try it on -- you'll look sharp!

Dress to the nines

The expression "dressed to the nines" means looking your best. We're talking ultra-formal tuxedo wear or a suit and tie. Although styles change, suits and tuxedos stay pretty much the same from year to year. It's the accents that make you stand out -- a pocket handkerchief that matches your tie, a silk scarf, classy wing-tipped shoes and a great smile, for example.

Have your say

What's your fave holiday look? Have your say in the comments below!